CHEVROLET · vehicle model

CHEVROLET HHR

4,744 NHTSA complaints and 8 safety recalls across model years 2006–2011.

Complaints
4,744
Recalls
8
Model years
6

The CHEVROLETHHR appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 4,744 consumer safety complaints and 8 safety recalls across 6 model years (2006–2011). That averages roughly 791 complaints per model year, but the distribution is almost never even — most nameplates concentrate their defect reports in a handful of cohort years tied to specific platform refreshes, supplier changes, or component redesigns.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller will accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model simply because more of them are on the road. What matters is the year-over-year shape and the component concentration — which the table below isolates for the HHR by showing complaint count, crash count, fire count, and NHTSA safety rating side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram below the table shows whether complaints are still being submitted against this nameplate or whether the pattern has plateaued, an important distinction for used-car shoppers weighing older cohort years.

NHTSA has 57 investigation files tied to this model, with 2 currently open. Investigations precede recalls and signal that the Office of Defects Investigation is actively testing a theory about a specific component cluster. Together with the complaint-by-year breakdown and recall remedy status, they are the primary signals used by insurance actuaries, fleet managers, and used-vehicle appraisers when pricing CHEVROLETHHR risk. Compare this nameplate against siblings in the same platform family to see whether a given defect pattern is model-specific or shared across the parent architecture.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
2011287
2010682
2009689
2008777
2007942
20061367

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

7
05
17
06
54
07
160
08
164
09
264
10
334
11
414
12
455
13
1325
14
385
15
266
16
190
17
179
18
103
19
148
20
108
21
62
22
63
23
28
24
18
25
View all trending models →

Compare CHEVROLETHHR to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all 57 investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the CHEVROLET HHR?
The CHEVROLET HHR has received 4,744 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 2006 to 2011, with 8 recalls. That averages about 791 complaints per model year.
What years of CHEVROLET HHR are available?
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the CHEVROLET HHR from 2006 to 2011 (6 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the CHEVROLET HHR have safety ratings?
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many CHEVROLET HHR model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common CHEVROLET HHR complaints?
NHTSA complaints for the CHEVROLET HHR are categorized by component — common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my CHEVROLET HHR has been recalled?
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.